Obstetric Emergency Department (OB ED)
Overview
The Obstetric Emergency Department (OB ED) at Lowell General Hospital offers enhanced emergency care by board-certified OB/GYN providers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Located on the hospital’s Labor and Delivery Unit, this dedicated space is equipped to provide expert care for pregnant women with obstetrical concerns, as well as delivery-related health issues for moms that are several weeks postpartum. Our goal is to quickly evaluate and treat mom and baby while reducing the wait time and anxiety that an expectant mother might experience when visiting the regular emergency department.
Your Care Team
The OB ED is staffed by our OB/GYN providers, including those that are part of our OB Hospitalist Program. Through our professional partnership with OBHG, our team of maternity professionals have the experience and specialty training to give moms peace of mind that they will receive the expert maternity care they expect.
Improved Safety and Convenience
Patient benefits from an on-site OB ED and 24/7 physician coverage include:
- Evaluation and management of pregnancy-related concerns and labor, as well as treatment for postpartum-related issues in the first few weeks after delivery.
- Coordination of care and communication of your condition to your primary OB/GYN provider if they are not at the hospital.
- Comprehensive review of test results and fetal heart rate monitoring.
- Availability of on-site obstetric specialists in early morning or late evening hours when doctor’s offices are typically closed.
- Enhanced patient safety and satisfaction with a reduction in emergency room readmissions.
The OB ED provides assessment and treatment for the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Vaginal bleeding
- Decrease in your normal fetal movement
- Concern about pre-term labor
- Ruptured membranes
- Urinary tract or bladder infections
- Conditions related to high-risk pregnancy (such as high blood pressure)
- Postpartum complications such as excessive bleeding
If possible, we recommend you call your OB provider before heading to the hospital. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency call 911. Upon arrival to the Lowell General Hospital Main Campus Emergency Department the triage team will immediately evaluate you and your baby’s condition and will determine if you should be seen in the OB ED or the regular emergency department.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is important that you speak with your OB/GYN provider to set up guidelines and protocols for emergencies. That way you will be familiar with certain symptoms that may be a warning sign to seek immediate medical attention. Remember, if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency call 911.
You will check in at the Main Campus Emergency Department for evaluation by a triage nurse. The OB ED providers and staff at the Lowell General Hospital ED work in close collaboration to coordinate the appropriate place of care. You may be sent directly to the OB ED or evaluated in the Main ED depending on your symptoms and condition.
The OB ED is located at 295 Varnum Avenue in Lowell, on the fifth floor of the Dahod Building and can be accessed through the main lobby elevator.
Visits in the OB-ED typically last less than two hours. You will receive a nursing assessment by one of our highly trained obstetric nurses and then you will be evaluated by one of our board-certified OB/GYN providers. Once the medical screening exam is performed and any testing completed you will then either be admitted to the hospital or discharged home.
Insurance carriers will process any visits to the OB ED as an emergency room visit, subject to any co-pays, co-insurance or other applicable fees under your particular health insurance policy. For any questions on coverage, please call the number on the back of your insurance card.